Innovative Outreach Practices Report 2011

Outreach
PRACTICES REPORT
INNOVATIVE
10 TH EDITION
SPECIAL FEATURE: SKILL BUILDING

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
Health Outreach Partners would like to extend its appreciation to the
following organizations for submitting innovative outreach practices:
Beaufort Jasper Hampton Comprehensive Health Services, Inc. (SC)
Carson City Health Department (NV)
Cherry Street Health Center (MI)
Clinicas de Salud del Pueblo, Inc. (CA)
Columbia Basin Health Association (WA)
Eastern Shore Rural Health System, Inc. (VA)
Family Health Centers (WA)
Hudson River HealthCare, Inc. (NY)
Maine Migrant Health Program (ME)
Mission Neighborhood Health Center (CA)
Mobile County Health Department (AL)
Quincy Community Health Center (WA)
Sea Mar Community Health Centers (WA)
Shawnee Health Service (IL)
Southeastern Louisiana University School of Nursing (LA)
Southern Jersey Family Medical Centers (NJ)
HOP would also like to thank the Sister Cecilia B. Abhold Award selection
panel for its time and efforts.
TheInnovativeOutreachPracticesReportissupportedinpartbyagrantfromthe
Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) to provide training
and technical assistance to Health Center Grantees. The content does not
necessarily represent the views of HRSA or the Federal government.
Health Outreach Partners
www.outreach-partners.org
405 14th
Street, Suite 909
Oakland, CA 94612
phone: 510/268-0091
fax: 510/268-0093
Cover photo: Shawnee staff member provides health education information to a mother and child
after a doctor's visit.

CONTENTS
Introduction......................................................................................................... 2
Sister Cecilia B. Abhold Award 2010-11 Recipients ...............................................6
Special Feature: Practices Addressing Skill Building............................................8
Innovative Outreach Practices At-Large............................................................ 14
Topical Index ..................................................................................................... 28
About Health Outreach Partners ...................................................................... 29

HEALTH OUTREACH PARTNERS2
INTRODUCTION
H
ealth Outreach Partners (HOP) is pleased to
present its tenth annual Innovative Outreach
Practices Report. When the first edition of
the report was published in 2002, few national
avenues existed for outreacch programs to
showcase their unique strategies and to network with other
outreach programs. The Innovative Outreach Practices Report
has since created this much-needed medium for communication,
collaboration,andinformationsharing.Thereportoffersoutreach
programs a national platform to share innovative outreach
techniques, discover new methods for improving outreach
programs, and identify emerging areas of interest and needs.
Altogether, this practical peer-to-peer resource, grounded in the
day-to-day experiences of front-line staff, highlights useful and
responsive interventions that can be adapted and implemented by
programs just like yours.
This year HOP received a range of practices several of which
emphasizedskill-buildingandempowermentamongfarmworkers
and other vulnerable populations. HOP is proud to feature these
practices in this report, highlighting a cutting-edge trend in
outreach programs.

INNOVATIVE OUTREACH PRACTICES REPORT 2011 3
What makes a practice innovative?
The practices featured in the Innovative Outreach Practices Report, 10th Edition
demonstrate how programs creatively deliver original and high-quality health
outreachservicestofarmworkers.Allpracticeshighlightedmeetatleastoneofthe
following broad criteria in an innovative way:
Overcome barriers facing low-income and underserved poulations•
Maximize resources in order to extend services•
Partner with others in the community•
Engage and empower low-income and underserved populations•
Collect and use data•
Reach out to an emerging population•
Addressaneworrisingissueamonglow-incomeandunderservedpopulations•
Forinstance,thisyear’sreportcontainsapracticefromaprograminNewYorkthat
increases patient access to consistent and quality care through the issue of photo
identification cards. The photo identification card helps link patients to the clinic
as their medical home while providing a much needed means of identification. The
practice can be easily replicated and has proven to be a valuable recruitment tool for
new patients.
Also, featured in this report is a program in Washington that worked with a local
university to create a multimedia piece highlighting important health issues that
impact the community. The
health promoters collected
photographs and conducted
interviews on housing needs.
The project has been used to
educate the community. As a
result of the project, there is
growing momentum to address
housingissuesinthearea.These
are just some of the 17 practices
showcased in this report. We
believeyouwillfindseveralthat
can be adapted to help tackle
issues within your community.
Dentist in Whatcom County completes a child’s dental screening (Sea
Mar).

How do I use this report?
The innovative outreach practices featured in this report are presented in two
sections,SpecialFeature:PracticesAddressingSkillBuildingandInnovativeOutreach
PracticesAt-Large.Theskillbuildingsectionbeginswithanintroduction,delineating
why HOP decided to place a special
emphasis on the topic in this year’s
report, followed by five innovative
outreach practices. The Innovative
Outreach Practices At-Large section
includes 12 practices on a range of
topics from outreach programs across
the country including farmworker-
serving organizations, many of which
were nominees for the Sister Cecilia B.
AbholdAward.Recipientsoftheaward
for 2010-11 are featured on pages 6-7.
You will also find an index of specific topics addressed in this report, such as
dental health and youth health. The Topical Index found on page 28 is meant to
help you search and easily identify practices that are most applicable to your
organization’s needs.
Although every outreach program is unique, the practices highlighted in this
report can be adapted to meet the specific needs of your organization. Another
key feature of the report is the collection of brief implementation tips (indicated
with a lightbulb) that suggest how practices can be adapted or point out additional
resources. Please contact HOP if you would like more detail or guidance on
effectively implementing or adapting featured practices.
Participantsplayingagameof"repollo"toreviewwhattheylearned
during a health education session (MMHP).
Afarmworkerparticipatesinapesticidesafetyawareness
event (CBHA).

5INNOVATIVE OUTREACH PRACTICES REPORT 2011
How can I learn about other innovative outreach practices?
In an effort to retain the innovative ideas we publish year after year, HOP
maintainsanelectronicdatabaseavailableonlineatwww.outreach-partners.org.The
practices are indexed by category, similar to the Topical Index in this report. The
database is updated annually once the report is published. Whenever you seek a
fresh approach to outreach, visit our website for guidance and inspiration!
How can my organization be featured in this report?
HOP’s goal is to promote effective outreach approaches among any and all
organizations serving low-income and underserved poulations. In addition to
gathering ideas from this report, reflect on what makes your outreach program
innovative and share your unique approaches, projects, and ideas with your
outreachpeers.Youcansubmityourowninnovativeoutreachpracticesforfuture
editions of this report at www.outreach-partners.org.
How does HOP collect practices for the report?
The innovative outreach practices featured in this report were gathered through
a national call for submissions and through HOP’s work with outreach programs
across the county.
Call for Submissions
Each year, HOP disseminates a
callforsubmissionsofinnovative
outreach practices to health
outreach programs nationwide.
The call for submissions is
publicized through mailings,
HOP’s website, listserves, at
Migrant Stream Forums, and by
word-of-mouth.
HOP’s Work in the Field
Through one-on-one training and consultation services, HOP has the unique
opportunity to witness firsthand the innovative outreach practices that programs
employ throughout the year. HOP regularly encourages the leaders of outreach
programs to share their knowledge and experience by submitting a practice for
inclusion in future editions of the report.
FHC Promotores pose for a photo during a break from
conducting health education activties in Okanagon County.

Hudson River HealthCare, Inc.
Cherry Street Health Services
Community Basin Health Association
SISTER CECILIA B. ABHOLD AWARD
2010-11 RECIPIENTS
About the Sister Cecilia B. Abhold Award
Sister Cecilia B. Abhold was the founding Executive Director of HOP, then the East
Coast Migrant Health Project. During her 20-year leadership, Sr. Cecilia pioneered
and advocated for farmworker outreach before it became a popular public health
preventionmodel.Inherhonor,HOPpresentstheSisterCeciliaB.AbholdAwardtoa
MigrantandCommunityHealthCenterorMigrantVoucherProgramineachmigrant
stream that demonstrates innovation in health outreach services to migrant and
seasonal farmworkers.
Nominations for the award are based on the submission of innovative outreach
practices by 330(g)-funded organizations. An award panel consisting of past award
recipients and HOP staff review nominations based on HOP’s criteria and select
one recipient from each migrant stream. The recipient of the award in each stream
is announced and presented with the award before their peers annually at the
corresponding Migrant Stream Forum.
Though organizations representing each stream are selected and honored with the
SisterCeciliaB.AbholdAwardannually,HOPreceivesmanynominationsforexcellent
programswithinnovativepractices.Manyoftheseinnovativeoutreachpracticesare
featured throughout this report.
To learn more about the Sister Cecilia B. Abhold Award, please visit
www.outreach-partners.org.
6 HEALTH OUTREACH PARTNERS

Hudson River HealthCare, Inc.
Increasing Patient Access through Photo
Identification Cards
Page 26-27
Cherry Street Health
Services
AffordableandAccessibleDental
Care for Migrant Workers
Page 17
Columbia Basin Health
Association
Pesticide Safety Education
Page 11
Eastern Stream
Midwest Stream
WesternStream

SPECIAL FEATURE:
PRACTICES ADDRESSING SKILL BUILDING
Outreach programs provide much needed enabling services to low-income,
vulnerable, and underserved populations, such as farmworkers and urban youth.
Outreachworkersprovideavarietyofservicestotheirtargetpopulationsincluding
publicbenefitseligibilitycounseling,healtheducationandpromotion,transportation,
case management, and interpretation. In addition, outreach programs can act as a
liaison between their target populations and health services. Outreach workers are
uniquely positioned to build trusting relationships, based on mutual respect and
patientempowerment,withtheircommunity.Thisyear,skillbuildingopportunities
emerged as a trend among practices submitted by outreach programs. Innovative
practiceshighlightedinthissectionempowertheirtargetpopulationstoproactively
improve their health. The featured programs recognize that information alone is
often not enough to successfully facilitate change. The following practices provide
resources, tools, and skills to ensure those receiving services are equipped to make
positive lifestyle changes.
FarmworkersparticipateinapesticidesafetyawarenesstrainingpresentedbyCBHAstaff.

INNOVATIVE OUTREACH PRACTICES REPORT 2011
Although many farms are rural and isolated from immediate emergency care,
farmworkersareoftenoverlookedforfirst-aidtraining.Thiscanaffecttheirabilityto
respond to emergencies both at work sites and in case of natural disasters.
Southern Louisiana University School of Nursing (School of Nursing) partnered
with Healthy Farm Families Initiative and developed a First Aid for Rural Medical
Emergencies (FARME) Train the Trainer curriculum. This curriculum is used by
the SELU School of Nursing students to provide first aid training to agricultural
farmworkers in Southern Louisiana. Training content covers injury and risks
associated with farm work and information on how to access emergency medical
services.Farmworkersalsolearnaboutpreventionstrategies,howtostabilizeaccident
scenes, and deliver first aid.
FARME has mutually benefited the School of Nursing and the farmworker
community.Studentscompletetheircommunityoutreachrequirementthroughthe
programandfarmworkers,inturn,benefitfromhands-ontraininginfirst-aidskills.
Initialdatafromfocusgroupsindicatethatfarmworkersrecognizethatfirst-aidskills
areimportant,bothforthemselvesandtheirfamilies.ThroughtheFARMEproject,
they have gained confidence, knowledge, and first-aid skills needed to take action
should an emergency arise.
FARMEcanserveasamodeloutreach
program development curriculum.
Successful partnerships can be
established with local universities
because outreach programs are
excellent platforms to help expand
educationalopportunitiesforstudents.
9
FIRST AID TRAINING FOR RURAL MEDICAL EMERGENCIES
SOUTHEASTERN LOUISIANA UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF NURSING
Hammond, Louisiana
SELU nursing students conduct community outreach.
HOP TIP: To learn more about the FARME curriculum, call or write The
Southwest Center for Agricultural Health, Injury Prevention, and Education.
Contact information can be obtained at www.swagcenter.org.

Many farmworkers do not have the literacy level required to understand the basic
health information needed to make appropriate health decisions. Traditionally,
farmworkersrelyonadvicefromfamilymembersorcuranderos(traditionalhealers).
Thislackofhealthliteracycanleadtoanincreaseinemergencyroomvisits.Thiscan
alsoaffectboththechildrenandparents’attendanceatschoolandworkrespectively.
Columbia Basin Health Association was selected as a pilot site to implement the
HealthCareInstituteLiteracyTrainingProgram,aprogramledbyDr.ArielaHerman
of the UCLA School of Management. The goals of the training were to increase
parents’healthcareknowledgeandempowerthemtomakedecisionsregardingtheir
children’s health care needs. The training focused on common health conditions
encountered by children up to 5 years old, including fever, diarrhea, vomiting, oral
hygiene, and the flu. Parents were also taught how to use a thermometer and give
medications. The trainings were provided in a manner that was easy to understand
and included many interactive activities which gave parents a hands-on experience.
After the training, parents were contacted every thirty days for three months to see
how they were using and applying the information they learned. So far, significant
positive outcomes have resulted from the training. Participating parents show:
• 32% decrease in emergency room visits
• 45% decrease in clinic walk-in visits
• Children missed less days from school/daycare (from 1.69 days to 0.02 days
per month)
• Parents missed less days from work (from 2.03 days to 0.05 days per month)
TheHealthLiteracyTrainingProgramhassuccessfullyhelpedincreaseparents'health
careknowledgeandbuildtheirskillsfortakingcareofthemselvesandtheirfamilies.
HEALTH CARE INSTITUTE LITERACY TRAINING PROGRAM
COLUMBIA BASIN HEALTH ASSOCIATION
Othello, Washington
A family learns how to use a thermometer to take their child's
temperature.

AINNOVATIVE OUTREACH PRACTICES REPORT 2011
Farmworkers are constantly exposed to pesticides and pesticide residues without
knowingtheshortorlong-termhealtheffects.Aneedsassessmentconductedbythe
PesticideSafetyEducationProgramatColumbiaBasinHealthAssociation(CBHA)
measured pesticide knowledge and pesticide safety practices among farmworkers.
Results showed that 50% of farmworkers had received no prior pesticide safety
education, with 43% unsure of what to do if exposed to pesticides. Forty percent of
these workers had been working in agriculture over five years.
To address the lack of pesticide safety knowledge and skills within the farmworker
community,theprogrambeganprovidingpesticidesafetytrainingsusinginteractive
activities such as pesticide bingo, role-playing, and case scenarios. Raffles were
provided as incentives to increase attendance. Farmworkers received prizes for
participating during the trainings. The prizes, such as t-shirts, hats, safety glasses, or
work gloves, reinforced the message of safety. Each training session’s content was
adjusted to reflect the level of understanding and knowledge of the participants and
their preferred language (Spanish, Mixteco, and English).
HOP TIP: Growers are required to provide pesticide safety training to their
workers. Your outreach team can offer to do these trainings in exchange for
additional time to talk to farmworkers about your health center or to conduct
health screenings.
PESTICIDE SAFETY EDUCATION
Community awareness events such as Mexican Consulate Day, Fiesta Amistad,
Cinco de Mayo, and 16 de Septiembre Festivals were also used to provide pesticide
safety information and one-on-one education. The program also partners with
local farmworker serving organizations including child developmentcenters, labor
camps,churches,ESLprograms,andskilldevelopmentcenters.Approximatelythree
thousand farmworkers have participated in pesticide safety training and awareness
activities in the past two years.
Afterthetrainings,asurveywasconductedtomeasureknowledgegainandpesticide
safety behaviors that farmworkers now apply in their work environment as well as
in their homes. Sixty-one percent of participants have increased their knowledge
of pesticide safety topics, while 23% of the farmworkers have successfully applied
pesticide-preventive behaviors in both the work place and at home.
COLUMBIA BASIN HEALTH ASSOCIATION
Western Migrant Stream Sister Cecilia B. Abhold Award Recipient
Othello, Washington

HEALTH OUTREACH PARTNERS
Since1997,MissionNeighborhoodHealthCenter(MNHC)hasofferedabilingual
programcalledLatinosenExtasistoLatinoyouth(ages13-18years)inSanFrancisco.
Theprogramaimstoempoweryoungpeopletobecomeproactiveabouttheirown
health and improve their community’s well-being.
Latinos en Extasis provides STI, HIV, and pregnancy prevention health education
through outreach peer-educators. The program incorporates a unique focus on
health rights and advocacy. Outreach peer-educators are recruited from local
middleandhighschoolsandattendnineweeksoftraining.Afterthetraining,peer-
educatorsworkforayearinthecommunityprovidingworkshopsandpresentations
during after school programs such as the Boys and Girls Clubs of America and
community centers that work with new immigrants. Participating youth learn
about various sexual health topics and
other relevant information such as
domestic violence, suicide prevention,
and substance abuse. They are educated
on their rights as patients as well as
California’s Minor Consent Laws and
confidentiality.Workshopsareinteractive
and presented in the preferred language
of the participants. Information is often
discussed in a gender neutral format to
avoid excluding anyone. Participating
youth are also linked to free counseling
and sexual and reproductive health
services at MNHC’s teen clinic.
Peer-education outreach has proven to be a successful tool for Latinos en Extasis.
Youthlearnmoreeffectivelywhenworkingwiththeirpeers.Throughtheprogram,
youth become advocates for their own health and learn how to navigate the
reproductivehealthcaresystem.Pastparticipants(peer-educatorsandtrainees)have
shownahighrateofcollegeenrollment,withmanycurrentlyworkinginthehealth
field as HIV test counselors and/or community health workers.
12
LATINOS EN EXTASIS
MISSION NEIGHBORHOOD HEALTH CENTER
San Francisco, California
Peer-educatorsattendReproductiveFreedomDayat
the state capitol.
HOP TIP: In some parts of the country, finding bilingual staff can be a challenge.
Programs that use volunteers for peer-education can be a great pipeline for new
employees.

INNOVATIVE OUTREACH PRACTICES REPORT 2011
ClinicasdeSaluddelPueblo,Inc.(CDSDP)developedanoutreachpreventativecare
program, Ventanilla de Salud Movil (VDSM) to build efficacy and a sense of self-
empowerment among farmworkers in their community and improve farmworker
access to healthcare services. While Ventanilla de Salud Movil is an independent
project,ithasexpandedonandworkedwiththeVentanilladeSaludprogram,funded
bytheMexicanConsulatetoimproveaccesstohealthservicesforMexicannationals
in foreign countries.
VDSM helps farmworkers believe
that they can make the changes
necessary to lead a healthy life
and set a good example for their
children. It uses a similar scope and
materialsastheconsulate,butinstead
focuses on providing outreach in
the community rather than through
a single, fixed location. Promotoras
target farmworkers on the street,
in their homes and at work with
culturally sensitive information
and health education. Services are
offeredinSpanishusinginteractiveandpopulareducationtechniques.Farmworkers
learn how to prevent or detect various health problems, such as diabetes and
hypertension.Also,theylearnabouthealthservicesavailabletotreatthesediseases.
Promotorasshowpictorialstatisticsandprovidepersonaltestimoniesthathighlight
theimportanceofseeingamedicalprovider.Followingprovideradviceisencouraged
in order to yield good health and a better quality of life. Participants can take stock
oftheirsituationandidentifyareasofpotentialchange.Farmworkersreceiveahealth
cardor“cartilladesalud”whichlistsrecommendedtestsandimmunizations.Finally,
theylearnaboutbasichealthscreeningssuchasBMI,bloodsugarandbloodpressure
tests.
ThroughVDSM,farmworkersseethecommunityhealthcenterasanally,enabling
them to achieve better health and prevention services. In 2010 alone, VDSM
facilitated 980 farmworker medical visits.
13
TARGETING SEASONAL FARMWORKERS FOR PREVENTATIVE CARE
CLINICA DE SALUD DEL PUEBLO, INC.
Brawley, California
PromotorasworkingwithVentanilladeSaludMovilposefora
picture.
HOPTIP:Considerhowtocreativelyuseexistingcommunitycollaborationsand
establishedprojectstomaximizeyourresources.Strategicpartnershipsextendthe
reach of your outreach efforts.

INNOVATIVE OUTREACH PRACTICES
AT-LARGE
A child peeks into her family’s double wide home with a big smile (Quincy Community Health).

THERAPY DOGS HELP MAKE FLU SHOT CLINIC A SUCCESS
The Carson City Health Department (CCHD) provides important vaccinations to
communitymembers.InJanuary2010, CCHDscheduledcommunity-wideH1N1
influenza vaccination clinics at a local shopping mall. Many people fear injections
and often hesitate to participate in vaccinations. In order to address this fear,
CCHD partnered with a unique and non-traditional type of “outreach worker.”
Three certified therapy dogs were employed to ease stress and offer support. These
canines are trained to provide affection and comfort to people in various settings
andstressfulsituations.Thetherapydogsfrequentvenuessuchashospitals,nursing
homes, retirement homes, schools and disaster settings.
The presence of therapy dogs at CCHD’s vaccination clinics not only helped those
withfearandanxiety,butalsoattractedattentionfromdog-loversandchildrenalike.
Thecanineworkerswerequitebusyatthecliniccirculatingamongtheattendeesand
sittingwithpatientsastheywereseatedforvaccinations;theirmerepresencehelped
engage, comfort, and distract participants.
An added bonus of bringing the therapy dogs on board was the positive media
exposurethatCCHDreceivedinadvance.Thelocalnewspaper,uponreceivingthe
press release, scheduled a photo-shoot of one of the dogs with a patient. An article
with a color photo appeared on the eve of the immunization clinic. In addition,
the Reno, Nevada NBC affiliate had the three dogs and their owners appear on the
noon news segment. The live appearance happened one day in advance of the clinic.
Altogether the therapy
dogs proved to be very
successful in marketing
the clinic and making an
uncomfortableexperience
easierformanycommunity
members. As a result, the
flu shot clinic seemed to
surpass others in both
quality and quantity
of people receiving
vaccinations.
CARSON CITY HEALTH DEPARTMENT
Carson City, Nevada
Therapy dogs ready to offer relief and comfort to those receiving immunizations.

Outreachstafflookforfarmworkerswhoarepickingtomatoes.
Beaufort-Jasper Hampton Comprehensive Health Services, Inc. (BJHCHS) has a
long history of raising awareness about the health needs and lives of farmworkers
and their families. This year, BJHCHS established a Farmworker Health Advisory
Council. Organizations and agencies involved in providing farmworker services
wereinvitedtojoin.RecruitmentofAdvisoryCouncilmemberswasasuccess,with
representativesjoiningfromtheEmploymentSecurityCommission,localchurches,
school clinics, and food pantry services. Advisory Council members offered advice
on how to better communicate and reach out to as many farmworkers as possible.
One accomplishment of the Advisory Council was the creation of comprehensive
welcome packets for new farmworkers. All the crew leaders, through the owner’s
management,receivedawelcomefolderwithBJHCHS’soutreachcoordinatorphone
numbers, an introductory letter, emergency numbers, and social service contact
information. Content of the packets included detailed information regarding local
programs and services such as Head Start programs, school-based clinics, the local
foodpantry,andhealthservices.Theinformationwaswidelydistributedthroughout
the community and increased the number of farmworkers that received accurate
information about the services available to them and their families. One notable
successwasfamilyparticipationinthefoodpantryservice.BetweenJanuaryandJuly
of 2010 there was a 25% increase in the
number of farmworkers accessing food
pantry services.
Plans are in place to continue the good
work of the Farmworker Advisory
Council. Next year the council plans to
coordinate English as a Second Language
classes. Additionally, Advisory Council
members are scheduled to participate in
a planning meeting to help prepare for
the season and expand current efforts. A
debrief meeting will also be held at the
end of the season to evaluate the success
of new and existing initiatives.
HOP TIP: Advisory Council recommendations should be shared with health
centeradministratorsandyourBoardofDirectors.Formaximumimpact,besure
to include farmworkers on your Advisory Council!
WORKING EFFECTIVELY WITH A FARMWORKER ADVISORY
COUNCIL
BEAUFORT-JASPER HAMPTON COMPREHENSIVE HEALTH SERVICES, INC.
St. Helena, South Carolina

AFFORDABLE & ACCESSIBLE DENTAL CARE FOR MIGRANT
WORKERS
Affordabledentalhealthisakeyissueformanymigrantpopulations.InHOP’s2010
report,BreakingDowntheBarriers:ANationalNeedsAssessmentonFarmworkerHealth
Outreach,dentalhealthwasthesecond-highesthealthissueofgreatestconcernamong
farmworkers.Inaddition,migrantworkers’demandingworkscheduleshinderthem
from accessing dental services available in their community. Health centers often
struggletoprovidelow-costdentalcareandmaintainhoursthatarefeasibleforboth
the health center and their target population. In the summer of 2010, Cherry Street
Health Center (Cherry Street) piloted a dental care program to address this need in
their community.
Theoutreachprogramworkedwiththehealthcentertodevelopanaffordableafter-
hours dental clinic. In the initial stages, the evening shifts started at 4 pm and ended
at 8 pm on Mondays only. Because of the program’s initial success, Cherry Street
extended emergency dental walk-in hours to Monday and Thursday. By 4pm on
Mondays, there is usually a line of people waiting for a dental visit.
Cherry Street works hard to keep the after-hours appointments affordable. For
starters, federal grants are used to fund the unpaid portion of the dental walk-
in visits. Cherry Street also utilizes on-site
AmeriCorps volunteers to provide clients with
information on patient eligibility for Medicaid
programs, health education, outreach and
interpretation services. In addition, patients
accessing the after -hours dental services can
also sign up for other medical services. Through
these cost saving measures, Cherry Street is able
to successfully offer emergency dental walk-
in services for $20 per visit. The after-hours
dental clinic has been a very successful patient
enrollment mechanism for Cherry Street as well.
HOP TIP: Keep in mind the overall benefit your health center receives by
increasing patient enrollment and ensuring eligible patients are accessing public
benefitsprograms.Useyouroutreachprogramstafftohelplinkpatientstopublic
benefits programs whenever possible.
Dr. Villar works with a client.
CHERRY STREET HEALTH SERVICES
Midwestern Migrant Stream Sister Cecilia B. Abhold Award Recipient
Grand Rapids, Michigan

MAXIMIZING REACH THROUGH “HEALTHY FARMWORKER
DAY”
EASTERN SHORE RURAL HEALTH SYSTEM, INC.
Franktown, Virginia
Forhealthcentersservingboththemigrantcommunityandthegeneralpopulation,
it can be a challenge to juggle appointments during peak harvest season. This is
especially true for preventative care appointments such as family planning, diabetic
check-ups, full physical exams and cervical cancer screenings. To address this need,
EasternShoreRuralHealthSystem,Inc.,helda“HealthyFarmworkerDay”during
CommunityHealthCentersWeekinAugust.Groupingappointmentsonthesame
dayhasseveralbenefitsand outreachplaysacrucialroleinmakingsurethedaygoes
smoothly for all involved.
Farmworkers received comprehensive
services on “Healthy Farmworker Day.”
Transportation was easier to coordinate
because the appointments were grouped on
oneday.Severalpatientsfromthesamecamp
rode together while others were transported
by church volunteers or by buses owned by
crew leaders. Once patients arrived at the
clinic,healtheducatorsdistributedculturally
appropriate health education materials,
provided health education, and offered
trainings on the proper use of glucometers.
Extra interpreters were on hand for pre-registration services. Providers and other
clinical staff addressed multiple issues in order to maximize the farmworkers’ time
attheclinic.OutreachworkerswerealsoonhandtoenrollfarmworkersinMigrant
ClinicianNetwork’s(MCN)HealthNetwork,arrangeforpatientstoreceivecopiesof
lab work, and help patients understand results and needed follow-up care.
Overall, the day was a success. Female patients received comprehensive screenings,
immunizations, and information on various health issues. Several patients were
referred to on-site mental health counseling, health education sessions, dental care,
and ultrasound and MRI/CT scans. Patients were also enrolled in Migrant Clinicians
Network's CAN-track and Health Network programs, which provides bridge case
management services for mobile patients. Participants of the event complimented
EasternShore’sfriendlystaff,theaffordabilityofservices,andexpressedappreciation
that“someonecaresaboutus.”Thankstopositiveword-of-mouthfrompatientslike
these, many other community members have requested appointments.
Amigrantpatientreceivesculturallyappropriatehealth
educationmaterialsduringherwomen'swellnessexam.
HOP TIP: Advance planning allows outreach programs to create a proactive
response to the needs of clients. Designate the necessary time to engage in a
thoughtful and deliberate planning process.

FAMILY HEALTH CENTERS
Okanogan, Washington
EFFECTIVELY ORGANIZING AND WORKING WITH LOCAL
COALITIONS
FamilyHealthCenters(FHC),aFederallyQualifiedHealthCenterinWashington,has
worked diligently to develop strong relationships with community partners and the
patient population. One asset FHC can count on is the dynamic, outgoing outreach
staff members who have natural talent for bringing others together. Through hard
workandpersistence,FHChassuccessfullybrokeredmutuallybeneficialrelationships
with two local coalitions.
Over the past several years FHC has worked with Fuerza Latina, the local Latino
grassroots collective that includes many migrant and seasonal farmworker
representatives. Fuerza Latina was included in a focus group to help develop FHC’s
outreach program after FHC was awarded
the Rural Health Care Outreach Grant
several years ago. Since then, FHC has
maintainedrelationswithFuerzaLatinaand
relied on this coalition to help the health
center be responsive to community needs
anddetermineappropriatehealtheducation
services. A benefit of maintaining a
presencewithFuerzaLatinaisthatFHChas
become firmly embedded as a trusted and
visible presence in the community.
FHChasalsopromotedthedevelopmentoftheLatinoHealthandWellnessCoalition.
Local health and social service agencies come together to increase the effectiveness of
communityeffortstoovercomesharedissuessuchaslackoftransportation,language,
andculturalbarriers.Thecoalitioncollaboratesonmanyprojectsincludinginstituting
anewWinterWellnessProgram,aprogramdesignedtokeepfamiliesactiveduringthe
cold winter months.
The essential ingredient that makes both of these coalitions such great resources to
FHCandthelocalcommunityisthattheirmembersareinvested.Thetwocoalitions
often work together, sharing common struggles and generating ideas to address
complexproblems.Bothcommunitymembersandprofessionalsalikearepartofthe
solution and advocate for better health and social services for Latinos.
FHC community health worker provides outreach health
education in Okanagon County.
HOP TIP: Community coalitions can be powerful partners. Investing time and
energy into developing positive relationships with these community leaders can
helpyourprogramlearnaboutthespecificneedsandchallengesofthepeopleyou
serve.

Hypertension is the most common health problem among farmworkers accessing
services through Maine Migrant Health Program (MMHP). In response, MMHP
set two hypertension-related goals in their Health Care Plan. To reach these goals,
MMHP has devised a system to ensure seamless coordination between outreach
workers,promotoras,andclinicians.Thestepsforprovidingeducation,screenings,
referrals, and care are outlined in a flowchart and staff responsibilities are clearly
defined. This visual tool created transparency and allowed each staff member to see
howtheirindividualeffortscontributedtoMMHPreachingitshypertension-related
goals.
MMHP instituted several additional steps to
ensure patients struggling with hypertension
received the best, most effective information
and care possible. Outreach workers and
promotorasprovidedbloodpressurescreenings
andhypertensionhealtheducation.Farmworkers
were given culturally and linguistically
appropriate health education materials and
blood pressure wallet cards, which can be used
tocontinuallymonitorbloodpressure.Clinicians
referred patients with multiple risk factors to
outreach case managers for self-management
planning.ApersonalhealthjournalwasdevelopedbyMMHPandotherstatehealth
agencies to help farmworkers effectively manage their chronic illness. Outreach
case managers and their farmworker clients record appointments, test results, and
medications in the journal, which serves as a record of care.
MMHPiscommittedtoevaluatingthesenewstrategies.Forinstance,apreandpost-
test is completed at each health education session. Outreach staff and promotoras
complete an evaluation checklist to serve both as a preparation guide and as a means
to evaluate the effectiveness of the session. The checklist also tracks the number of
farmworkersreceivingreferralsandhowmanyfarmworkersactuallysawaclinician
asaresultofthesession.Finally,outreachstaffmembersreflectontheirexperiences
together, sharing suggestions for improvement and highlighting successes.
A MULTI-FACETED COORDINATED APPROACH TO ADDRESS
HYPERTENSION
MAINE MIGRANT HEALTH PROGRAM
Augusta, Maine
Staff member completes blood pressure screening
after the group health education session.
HOP TIP: Visual tools like a flowchart help take the guesswork out of
complicatedprocesses.Considerusingchecklists,flowcharts,andtrackingsystems
to keep everyone on track and documenting the good work being done.

In 2009, Semmes Clinic made targeting hard to reach individuals where they
live, work, and seek services an outreach priority. The goal of this mobile effort
was to get the word out about health
issues, benefits of seeking health care,
and service opportunities. In 2010, the
outreach program lead by Irma Reyes
emphasized “health aggressiveness”,
assertive efforts by health care and social
service workers to emphasize the need for
good health care practices and compliance
with provider advice. It is not enough to
have services available. Semmes decided
to closely study its constituency and
match services not only to their needs but
to their mindset. Semmes paid attention
to patient priorities, concerns and barriers
to participation, such as language, fear
of government, lack of knowledge about
health issues, and the inconvenience of care and treatment.
Semmes outreach staff increased efforts by pushing a little harder, talking a little
faster, and using a variety of techniques to ensure farmworkers receive quality care
and follow up. This approach was particularly effective during the tuberculosis
and skin cancer screening “rush” held from May to August. During this period of
intensescreeningpromotion,eightindividualswereidentifiedwithlatenttuberculosis
infection.Tuberculosistreatmentistimeintensive,requiringvigilanceandassistance
in understanding the process for navigating the health care system. Outreach staff
coordinated transportation, provided interpretation, offered support, kept the
patientsinformed,andprovidedhealtheducationabouttuberculosisandmedication
adherence.
All eight individuals have started medication and have been closely monitored
because of Semmes Clinic efforts. The quick, aggressive action of clinic staff
ensuredpatientsgotintotheclinicforcare,receivedappropriatetreatment,andwere
monitoredforfollow-up.SemmesCliniccannowapplythisapproachandthelessons
learned to their burgeoning Latino HIV/AIDS prevention and treatment efforts.
PRACTICING "HEALTH AGGRESSIVENESS" IN TUBERCULOSIS
IDENTIFICATION AND TREATMENT
MOBILE COUNTY HEALTH DEPARTMENT, SEMMES CLINIC
Semmes, Alabama
Outreach staff ensure community members get
important information about their health.
HOP TIP: Outreach efforts should be closely aligned with the health center’s
priorities. Be sure your outreach staff know about the objectives in your
organization’s health care plan.

QUINCY COMMUNITY HEALTH CENTER
Quincy, Washington
RAISING AWARENESS OF HOUSING ISSUES USING 21ST
CENTURY TECHNOLOGY
Quincy Community Health Center and the Edward R. Murrow College of
CommunicationatWashingtonStateUniversity(WSU)partneredtodoaPhotovoice
project.The14-minutemultimediapiecehighlightedhousingasanimportanthealth
issuethatimpactsthecommunityinandaroundQuincy,Washington.Atthestartof
theproject,promotorasweretrainedonphotography,conductinginterviews,aswell
as ethical and safety concerns.
Many issues were explored and housing
was identified as the main environmental
health issue facing the community. The more
experienced promotoras participated in the
production of a piece on housing. Video,
pictures, and audio were collected from the
promotoras and edited by a student from
the WSU Edward R. Murrow College of
Communication.Theproductionofthepiece
allowedthecommunitytodiscusshowhousing
affectsthecommunityoverall.TheresultingPhotovoiceprojectdebutedduringthe
week-longcelebrationofCommunityandMigrantHealthCenters45thanniverasry,
which also coincided with the 32nd anniversary of Quincy Community Health
Centers.
Since the unveiling of the project, there has been a growing momentum to address
housing in the area. Local newspapers such as The Spokesman Review and Seattle
Timescoveredthestory.CityofficialsareworkingwiththeGrantCountyHousing
Authoritytodoahousingneedsassessmentandpromotoraswillcollectthesurveys.
Increased awareness of homeless classification among school children has resulted
in more families being connected to services. In addition, the local Habitat for
Humanity offers mediation training to promotoras to help them better address
housingissues.TheimpactofthePhotovoiceprojectextendsbeyondtheQuincyarea.
Quincy'spromotorashavebeeninvitedtosharethedetailsoftheprojectwithother
health professionals across the country.
Universitiesarenaturalpartnersforanoutreachprogram.Anoutreachprogramcan
use the resources of higher-education institutions to bring awareness to important
local issues. Local universities can also help organize and execute the project.
An 8 year old girl plays around hazardous materials.
HOP TIP: Visit www.vimeo.com/13687758 to access the Photovoice project.
Pictures can be powerful tools to communicate the needs and challenges of your
community.

For 18 years, Sea Mar Community Health Centers (Sea Mar) in Mt. Vernon,
Washington have led a migrant camp outreach program that is designed to deliver
services and educate patients about medical screenings, dental screenings and social
services.SeaMaroffersinformationonavarietyofservicesincludingfood,clothing,
worker-rightsinformation,andHIVeducationandtesting.Oneofthemajorbarriers
that emerged over the last few years is the need to offer services in a variety of
languages.Withthisinmind,theoutreachprogramfocusedonrecruitingpromotoras
whoarebilingualortrilingualinEnglish,Spanish,andMixtecoorTriquifromlocal
communities in the counties served by Sea Mar.
Sea Mar Outreach Program has developed an informal and unique approach to
recruiting bilingual and/or trilingual promotoras. Recruitment can occur anywhere.
SeaMar’srecruitmenteffortsincludetargetingfamilymembersofpatientsorpatients
themselves at the health center, or during outreach at camps and health fairs. The
outreach program recruits many promotoras to address the language barriers of the
patient population through a less formal
recruitment process than it uses for other
positions. Once recruited, promotoras
sign a contract with Sea Mar stipulating
the number of hours and days of week
they are available, scope of work and
specific responsibilities (interpretation,
community outreach, health education).
Incentives include a $25 gift card per
month, letters of recommendations for
jobsandcollegeenrollment, andongoing
training opportunities.
The program coordinator creates a list of
allSeaMaroutreachpromotoras’addresses,telephonenumbersandpreferredhours
ofavailability.Thislistisdistributedtoalltheprovidersatallsites.Withtheinformal
recruitmentinplace,thehealthcenterisabletoacquiremanybilingualpromotoras.
Morepromotorasmeansmoreflexiblehoursforeveryone.Thisway,apromotoracan
continuearegularjobwhileprovidingmuchneededinterpretationandotherhealth
enabling services during her spare time to the health center.
ADDRESSING LANGUAGE BARRIERS THROUGH INCENTIVES
AND FLEXIBLE HOURS FOR PROMOTORAS
SEA MAR COMMUNITY HEALTH
Mt. Vernon, Washington
Apromotora,aDSHSsocialworker,andarepresentative
from the Homeless Program talk to a client in Skagit
County.
HOP TIP: It is imperative that all interpreters – whether paid staff or
volunteers – receive appropriate training. Monolingual staff should receive
training on working effectively with interpreters.

TheMurphysboroHealth Center (MHC)isoneofShawneeHealthService’smany
health care facilities. The outreach program is based out of MHC and provides
a wide variety of outreach services to the farmworker population. This year, the
Migrant Health Program worked diligently to define the mission, goals, objectives,
andactivitiesoftheprogram.Establishinganoutreachprogram-specificmissionand
related goals gives the team a clear focus and direction.
In order to ensure the outreach staff members’ voices were incorporated into the
plan, staff members were split into two teams. Each group worked separately to
review different examples and definitions of mission statements. The teams were
asked to make a list of all the outreach and enabling services provided to Shawnee
HealthServicepatients.Eachteamthencraftedamissionstatementanddefinitionof
outreach. The large group compared and merged the results.
This approach to the process ensured that the staff members with the greatest
knowledge of the farmworker population determined the direction of the outreach
program. Knowing the needs of the population makes it easier to establish relevant
goals that will best serve the patient population. Not only do team members know
the community, but participation in the process builds team cohesion. Everyone
works toward a shared vision, crafted by the very people who are responsible for
carrying out the mission.
CREATING A SHARED OUTREACH VISION
SHAWNEE HEALTH SERVICE
Carterville, Illinois
Theoutreachteamcreatesanoutreachprogramplan.
HOP TIP: Effective outreach programs plan their activities based on the
organization’spriorities,thepopulation’sneeds,andtheprogram’sresources.
Involving all team members results in a plan that everyone is more likely to
follow. Contact HOP for assistance in planning for your program.

AINNOVATIVE OUTREACH PRACTICES REPORT 2011 25INNOVATIVE OUTREACH PRACTICES REPORT 2010
WomenlineuptoreceivebreasthealthinformationatSouthern
Jersey’s community celebration.
Southern Jersey Family Medical Centers (SJFMC) decided to host a community
celebration in early May in honor of Mother’s Day and Cinco de Mayo. It was a
perfectopportunitytofocusonwomen’shealthandbringthecommunitytogetherto
celebrateMexicancultureandheritage. SJFMCpromotedthisfamily-orientedevent
byencouragingcommunitymemberstocelebratetraditionalmusic,food,folkloric
dance, and learn about breast health. Specifically, people were asked to bring their
mothers, partners, and friends.
Thecelebrationofferedtheopportunitytoaddressbreasthealthamongstwomenin
particular.SJFMCtargetedmonolingualSpanish-speakingwomeninthecommunity
that experience significant barriers to getting annual mammogram screenings.
Supported in part by funds from the Susan G. Komen Foundation, SJFMC ensured
BreastHealthPromoterswereonhandtogiveouthealthinformationandhelpmake
appointments for mammograms. A local Spanish radio announcer facilitating the
event reinforced important breast health messages over the microphone at various
points throughout the day.
Over 200 people participated in the event. The day was festive with community
members dressing their children in traditional regional Mexican costumes. Games
and activities were also available for the children. Many participants even showed
their talents by joining performers
on stage. The most important
accomplishment was that many
monolingual Spanish-speaking
women were reached. A number
of appointments were made for
mammogramscreenings.Inaddition,
more women were able to access
importantbreasthealthserviceswith
help from the health promoters.
SOUTHERN JERSEY FAMILY MEDICAL CENTERS (SJFMC)
Hampton, New Jersey
HIGHLIGHTING BREAST HEALTH AWARENESS

Migratory workers face numerous barriers to accessing care including the lack of
identification,especiallyaphotoID,whichlinksthemtoalocalpresence.Toaddress
the issue, Hudson River HealthCare, Inc. (HRHCare) launched an innovative and
simple system for migratory workers’ identification.
At the health center, a patient receives a photo ID card that lists his/her name, date
of birth, a patient number, a primary care provider, and a toll-free contact number
forHRHCare.ThephotoIDcardsarecreatedusingabasicdigitalcamera,computer,
andphotoprinter,andthendouble-laminated.Thiscanbedoneatthehealthcenter
or during outreach in the field.
The photo ID cards are supported by the patient tracking and registry functions
within the health center’s electronic health record system. This helps patient
representatives and support staff to streamline registration, referrals, and follow-
ups even if there is a significant language barrier. In addition, the photo IDs help
providersatHRHCarelowerthechanceofmedicalerrorsoftenassociatedwiththe
misidentification of patients.
Word-of-mouth regarding the cards has been very positive in the community. It
serves as an extremely effective patient recruitment tool. Patients value the photo
ID card, as it provides a kind of “official” identification that, for many, is difficult to
obtain.ThephotoIDcardalsoservesasawaytovalidatetheir“membership”inthe
community.
INCREASING PATIENT ACCESS THROUGH PHOTO
IDENTIFICATION CARDS
HUDSON RIVER HEALTHCARE, INC.
Eastern Migrant Stream Sister Cecilia B. Abhold Award Recipient
Peekskill, New York

HUDSON RIVER HEALTHCARE, INC.
Eastern Migrant Stream Sister Cecilia B. Abhold Award Recipient
Peekskill, New York
Sample Photo ID card and attached information sheet.
INCREASING PATIENT ACCESS THROUGH PHOTO
IDENTIFICATION CARDS

TOPICAL INDEX
Addressing Social Services Need: 16, 18
Case Management: 17, 20
Child Health: 10
Collaboration, Community: 16, 19
Collaboration, Government: 22
Collaboration, University: 9, 10, 22
Data/Documentation: 26
Dental Health: 17
Emergency Preparedness: 9
Farmworker Participation/Consumer Input: 19
Health Education/Popular Education: 10, 11, 13, 20
HIV and STIs: 12
Indigenous Farmworkers: 23
Lay Health/Promotor(a): 12, 13, 22, 23, 25
Marketing/Media: 15, 22, 26
Mobile Clinic/Clinical Outreach: 15
Needs Assessments: 22
Organizational Communication/Integration: 18, 20, 21, 24, 26
Policy/Advocacy/Awareness: 12, 22
Professional Development: 23
Program Planning/Evaluation: 11, 16, 18, 20, 24
Skill Building: 9-13
Women's Health: 25
Youth Health/Development: 12
Database of Innovative Outreach Practices
Innovative outreach practices that HOP has collected from 2004 and onward are
categorized and accessible on HOP's website at www.outreach-partners.org

ABOUT HEALTH OUTREACH PARTNERS
Since 1970, Health Outreach Partners (HOP) has been the leading organization for
thepromotion,delivery,andenhancementofhealthoutreachandenablingservices
to farmworkers and their families. In 2001, HOP leveraged its more than 30 years
of direct-service experience and transitioned into a national training and technical
assistance (T/TA) organization dedicated to helping community-based organizations
improvetheiroutreachandenablingservicestofarmworkers.In2009,HOPchanged
itsnamefromFarmworkerHealthServices,Inc.,andexpandeditsscopetorespond
to the changing labor populations targeted by outreach.
Health Outreach Partners’ mission is to build strong, effective, and sustainable
grassroots health models by partnering with local community-based organizations
acrossthecountryinordertoimprovethequalityoflifeoflow-income,vulnerable,
and underserved populations. HOP’s vision is a country in which all people are
valued and in which equal access to quality health care is available to everyone, thus
enriching our collective wellbeing.
Health Outreach Partners offers a wide range of customized services which help to
enhancecommunity-basedorganizations’outreachdelivery.ThoughHOP’straining,
consultation, and information services, organizations can expect to build their
capacity around the following six priority areas:
• Health Outreach & Enabling Services
• Program Planning & Development
• Needs Assessment & Evaluation Data
• Health Education & Promotion
• Community Collaboration & Coalition Building
• Cultural Competency

Innovative Outreach Practices Report 2011

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